I'm shooting another wedding today, but with this one I will be editing a short highlights video in addition to the full length ceremony. I have seen samples of this sort of highlights video with that really cool "dreamy" look and thats what I'd like to achieve. I have already messed around with duplicating the layer, and setting a 50% opacity and gaussian blur to the top layer to soften the image, and slowing the video to around 85-90%, and while I like that look, I want to take it a step further.

Its hard to describe (and sorry, I don't have a link), but what I have seen is video that has a sort of glow to it, making the bride and groom really stand out. Sorry if thats too little detail... im not sure how else to explain it.

If anyone knows what I'm talking about and knows how to achieve this look, please let me know.

I'll be doing this in Final Cut Pro 4

Thanks!

<side note> I've shot some test footage using my GL2's 16:9 in-camera mode, and I think it looks fine. has anyone else out there shot entire weddings in widescreen with a GL2?

A very common way to achieve this (other than the soft focus effect you mentioned) is to add a "glow" filter. I'm not sure what it's called in FCP but I do know that it has it. The glow filter will allow the highlights to have diffusion. (ie lights, the bride's dress, and so on) the objects or areas with a higher luminance will take on a glowing diffussion effect.

These two are examples:

http://www.msprotege.com/members/LazerBlueP5/V5%20Tree%20Tops.jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/LazerBlueP5/V5%20Road.jpg

Wha is the glow equivilet in Adobe Premiere? Would you use Channel Blur?

im having a hard time finding this glow filter in final cut pro also. i've looked around but cant find any filter that provides this sort of look.

can anyone tell me where the filter is and what the best settings are to use?

thanks

Premiere I'm not sure- I haven't used it heavily since 6.5, and I haven't used Pro extensively- I use Vegas 5.

Regarding FCP you might want to ask the guys on the Mac Editing forum. Probably get an answer within minutes.

"Wha is the glow equivilet in Adobe Premiere? Would you use Channel Blur?"

The effect I use is very similar in PPro, simply create the copy track, add the gaussian blur approx 38, 50% opacity and add the alpha glow filter found in the "stylize" folder of video effects. Mess around with the levels to create the look you are after. It can also look good applying a B&w filter.

If you are using Adobe Premiere with the Matrox real-time card, there is a real-time effect called Soft Focus which I use to get that glowy dreamy effect. I'm using Premiere 6.5 with the Matrox RT2500 card. I'm currently saving up for the RT.X100 but with the introduction of the XL2, things have changed ...

In final cut pro, you can duplicate the track and on the upper track apply a gaussian blur (20 pixels) and then use a transfer mode for a different soft look.

Cheers

They aren't looking for a soft-focus- they are looking for a glow (ie white diffusion).

Carl,

Just tried your suggestion and copied the clip, added Gaussian blur with ~50% opacity and that alone makes a world of difference in my clip. With the added alpha glow really nice look. Thanks.

In MediaStudio Pro 7, drag the Diffused Glow filter to the clip and bingo! Done. (Works best on stills and slow-mo clips; a little "trail" is visible when the filter is applied to fast-moving, bright objects.) I've started using the Diffused Glow more recently, and clients say it's beautiful.

Take care, and happy editing.

I'm still having a hard time finding a filter that does this in Final Cut Pro 4. I downloaded the demos of the Joe's Filters set (www.joesfilters.com), and there is a filter in that set called Joe's Color Glow that is exactly what I want. However, I am on a very limited budget and don't want to spend $100 on the full set of filters when I only need one. I can't find a way to purchase individual filters on his website.

Can anyone tell me if this effect is possible in final cut without these third party filters, or if not, is it possible to purchase this filter individually?